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Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence, Anti-Berlin 4.d3

Svidler–Andreikin, 66th ch-RUS 2013, Nizhny Novgorod · Firouzja–Carlsen, 82nd Tata Steel 2020, Wijk aan Zee · 6:14 · ECO C65

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In this video

Game 1: Peter Svidler (2740) vs Dmitry Andreikin (2706)

66th ch-RUS 2013, Nizhny Novgorod, 8 October 2013 · White won (1-0) · 37 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 4...d6The first move after the opening line0:24
  2. 26.Qc3+White stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:59
  3. 31.e5The evaluation moves from +4.62 to +5.362:24
  4. 36...f6The evaluation moves from +7.25 to +9.402:52
  5. 37.Nd4White wins after 37 moves2:54

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Alireza Firouzja (2723) vs Magnus Carlsen (2872)

82nd Tata Steel 2020, Wijk aan Zee, 21 January 2020 · Black won (0-1) · 39 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 4...d6The first move after the opening line3:18
  2. 31.Nef1Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:18
  3. 32.g3The evaluation moves from −2.12 to −2.815:22
  4. 37.Bxd6The evaluation moves from −2.84 to −4.275:48
  5. 38...Qxf2+The evaluation moves from −4.57 to −3.035:55
  6. 39.Kxf2The queens come off5:58
  7. 39...Bxf1Black wins after 39 moves6:00

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6, White sidesteps the Berlin endgame that arises after castling and ...Nxe4 by protecting e4 with 4.d3. The game stays slow, with queens on and the centre closed for now. White aims for a later c3 and d4 or for a c4 bind, while Black usually answers with ...d6 and either a kingside fianchetto or a standard Spanish setup.

Svidler–Andreikin went 4...d6 5.O-O Bd7. With 6.c4 and 7.Nc3, Svidler built a Maroczy-style bind, and Andreikin fianchettoed with ...g6 and ...Bg7. White opened the centre with 13.d4, and the score rose from +0.64 at 14.Bxd4 to +1.42 at 19.f4. Black took a pawn with 24...Bxc4, but after 26.Qc3+ White stayed more than two pawns ahead. Svidler regained the material with 29.Rxd6 and pushed e5 and f5 against the exposed king. After 36...f6 the score went from +7.25 to +9.40, and White won after 37.Nd4.

Firouzja–Carlsen followed a slow Spanish plan instead of a bind: 5.c3, then Re1, Nbd2 and d4, and finally 14.d5. Carlsen answered with ...b5 and ...c6 and opened the queenside, and the score drifted from −0.16 at 14.d5 to −1.38 at 29.Nef1. After 31.Nef1 Black stayed more than two pawns ahead. The ...h4 break loosened White's kingside, and 35...Nxa4 won material. The queens came off with 38...Qxf2+, which moved the score from −4.57 to −3.03, and Black won after 39...Bxf1.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Svidler vs Andreikin, 66th ch-RUS 2013, Nizhny Novgorod
  3. 3:03Game 2: Firouzja vs Carlsen, 82nd Tata Steel 2020, Wijk aan Zee

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3

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